Hydraulic log barker with oscillating jet issuing means



April 6, 1954 F. v. SAMS 2,674,283

HYDRAULIC LOG BARKER WITH OSCILLATING JET ISSUING MEANS Filed April 5, 1950 Patented Apr. 6, 1954 2,674,283 F I C E HYDRAULIC LOG BARKER WITH. OSCILLAT- ING JET ISSUING MEANS Fred V. Sams, Portland, reg., assignor to Allis- Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee,

Wis.

Application April 3, 1950, Serial No. 153,702

6 Claims. (01. 144-4208) This invention relates to devicesfor cleaning and removing bark from whole logs or parts thereof by means of high pressure hydraulic jets. More specifically this invention relates to that type of hydraulic barker in which an oscillating motion is imparted to the barking jet as the log or part thereof is transported through the machine. The principal object of the invention is the provision of new and improved barking devices.

To be economically successful a hydraulic log barking machine must remove the bark and foreign material from the surface of the log effectively and at high speed. The oscillating nozzle type barking machine was developed to more effectively meet these requirements. In the usual machine of this type, a barking nozzle is mounted to oscillate transversely across the log with the axis of oscillation lying in a plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the log. These barking machines have resulted in faster barking than stationary nozzle machines but such a jet will glance oif the log without having touched a full 180 of the log surface. The effectiveness of an oscillating jet in removing bark will depend on the condition of the bark itself and on the angle at which the the jet strikes the bark. When the jet is perpendicular to the log surface the action of the jet will be that of blasting away the bark. That is, when the full force of the jet is brought to bear on the bark, the bark will be crushed, pulverized and blown away. When the jet passes beyond the center of the log, the curvature of the log and the path of the jet results in the jet striking the log at more of an oblique angle. The action of the jet will then be more of a peeling action and less of a blasting action as the jet approaches the outer portions of the log or slab. That is, the jet will tend to get under the bark, then glance off the log and carry the bark with it. The efficiency of this peeling .action of the jet is more easily aifected by the condition of the bark than is the efficiency of the blasting action. It is therefore desirable that the blasting action of the jet be utilized through a maximum portion of the jets path across the log to insure barking of the maximum possible area, regard less of the condition of the bark.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a machine that will result in both greater speed and greater effectiveness in utilizing a hydraulic jet ,to remove bark and all foreign matter from logs, slabs or edgings in preparing them for further processing as lumber or pulp.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a machine that willdirect a single oscillating jet that travels in a path across 180 of a logs circumference.

Another Object .ofth'is invention isfto provide a machine in which a barking jet will oscillate fluid couplings I2.

2 transversely across a log or slab in such a manher so as to utilize the blasting action of the jet through the maximum possibleportion of the paths traveled by the jet.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a barking machine in which several slabs and/or edgings of different heights may be grouped and sent through the machine together.

Objects and advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

The novel features of the invention and how the objects are attained will appear from the specification and the accompanying drawing showing two embodiments of the invention and forming a part of this application, and all of these novel features are intended to be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side view of a log barking machine according to the present invention showing the nozzle structure with an oscillating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the log barking ma- .chine of Fig. 1, showing the manner in which two oscillating nozzles may cooperate to bark the entire circumference of a log in a single pass through the machine;

Fig. 3 is an end view of another embodiment of the invention that may be used for the barking of slabs and/or edgings; and

Fig. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 3 showing the supporting and oscillating structure of the nozzle assembly.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 and Fig.

.2, the log barking machine comprises log receiving and carrying means I, nozzle assemblies 2, oscillating mechanisms 3 for causing the nozzle assemblies 2 to oscillate transversely across the log, and fluid supply means 4 for supplying hydraulic fluid to the nozzle assemblies 2 under high pressure to cause the nozzle assemblies 2 to issue a barking jet that will effectively remove all of the bark and foreign material from the log as it is carried through the machine.

Log receiving and carrying means I are herein shown as comprising log carrying rolls 5 mounted by means of a shaft 6 extending from each side of the rolls 5 and supported by supporting members l. The rolls 5 may be driven by any suitable means, not shown, and in any .combination of, driven and idler rolls desired, to carry the logs through the machine.

The nozzle assemblies 2 are shown mounted on .a base member Iii on each side of the rolls 5. The nozzle assemblies are shown as comprising conduit members ll attached to fixed flexible The couplings l2 serve the conduit members II both as the fiuid supply fittings and as the fulcrum for the oscillating mo.- tion of the conduit members H. Barking nozzles i3 are attached to the conduit members I I on their free swinging ends. A bend in the free swinging ends of the conduit members II form the conduit members II in an L-shape which results in having nozzles I3 directed upon the log perpendicularly from the conduit members II and parallel to the axis of oscillation through the couplings I2.

The oscillating mechanism 3 that causes the conduit members II to oscillate about the turning axis of the couplings I2 includes a lever arm I6 extending from each of the flexible couplings I2. arm I6 by a multispeed electric motor IT. A shaft I8 of the motor I! extends from both sides of the motor ll to transmit the rotating motion of the motor directly behind each of the nozzle assemblies 2. A crank lever I9 is mounted on each end of the rotating shaft I 8. A connecting arm connects the crank lever I9 to the lever arm I6, the rotational motion of the motor thereby being converted to reciprocating motion.

The upper and lower limits of nozzle travel are made adjustable by a slot 2| in the crank arm I9 and by another slot 22 in the lever arm I6 which makes it possible to adjust the throw of the connecting arms 20. That is, increasing the effective length of the lever arms I6 will lower the upper limit of the nozzle I3 travel and decreasing the effective length of the lever arms I6 will raise the upper limit of the nozzle travel. As different size logs are received for barking the upper limit of the nozzle l3 travel may be varied to reduce the overthrow of water over the top of the logs.

The lowering of the upper limit as above described has little effect on the lower limit but since small logs will ride a little deeper in the rolls a slight adjustment in the lower limit in the nozzle I3 travel may be desired. Increasing the effective length of the crank lever It will drop the lower limit. This will, however, at the same time raise the upper limit. But this can again be lowered by another slight increase in the effective length of the lever arm I6.

Thus it will be seen that by adjusting the throw of the connecting arms 2% the overthrow of water both above and below the log may be kept at a minimum. It is not contemplated, however, that in the shown embodiment this adjustment need necessarily be made for each log that passes through the machine but rather that these adjustments may be made and a number of logs of approximately the same size be barked with the nozzle limits at one setting.

Oscillating motion is imparted to the lever The fluid supply means 4 for delivering high pressure fluid to the nozzle I3 comprises a fluid W supply pipe 23 with headers 24 extending to each side of the log carrying means I. Delivery tubes 25, 26 transmit the fluid from the headers 24 to the nozzle assemblies 2. The tubes 25, 2B deliver hydraulic fluid to both sides of the flexible fluid couplings I2 to balance the forces on the couplings and thereby enable them to oscillate without binding or causing excessive wear.

In the operation of the structure abov described, logs are fed endwise onto the rolls 5. The oscillating nozzles i3 will direct a barking jet upon the log that will be parallel to the jet issued from the nozzle at any other position during its oscillation. This results in the bark of the central portion of the log being removed by a direct blasting action of the jet while the bark of the upper and lower portions of the log will be removed by more of a peeling action. Each nozzle I3 will be able to direct a jet that will reach 180 of the logs circumference. If an through the machine.

occasional log is received with its bark in such condition that the upper and lower parts of the log will not peel, a second pass through the machine may be made with the log turned to thereby subject the entire circumference to the direct blasting action of the jets. If the machine is to be used primarily for logs that Will not be amenable to a peeling action, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the rolls 5 may be replaced by any of the well known types of rolls that can simultaneously rotate and advance a log through the machine, thus directing the blasting action of the jets at the entire circumference of the log in a single pass through the machine. The efiective length of the crank lever I9 could be shortened so as to eliminate that part of the nozzle I3 travel that does not subject the log to a suflicient blasting action.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 and Fig, 4, parts similar to any part in the above described embodiment are similarly labeled with the suflix 0. added. This embodiment discloses the invention as applied to a machine that may be used to remove bark from slabs or edgings. The machine is shown as comprising a single nozzle assembly 2a with oscillating means 3a and hyolraulic fluid supply means 5a mounted above the slab carrying means Ia.

The slab carrying means Ia are shown as comprising rolls that are cylindrical in shape so as to present a iiat surface for supporting slabs or edgings. Longitudinally mounted guide pipes 38, 3E, supported by members 32, 33, comprise the guiding means for the slabs as they advance The nozzle assembly 2a i supported above the rolls Ed by vertical members and horizontal cross members 35.

The nozzle assembly 2a comprises a conduit member I la connected to a flexible fluid coupling 12a. The free swinging end of the conduit member lid is bent to a 90 angle and has a barking nozzle Isa attached thereto. The oscillating means 3a includes a lever arm Ifia extending from the flexible coupling I2a, a multispeed electric motor Ila mounted on the vertical supporting member 34 with the drive shaft I8a in a vertical position, and a crank lever ISa attached to the shaft Illa. A connecting arm 20a joins the crank lever ISla to the lever arm IBa. The ro tational motion of the motor Ila thereby oscillates the conduit member He in a horizontal plane with the nozzle i3a directing a barking jet that will be vertical at all times. Thus as the nozzle I30. travels across the slab, the effect will be to remove the bark by the direct blasting action of the jet. The slight curvature of the surface of a slab in itself is not enough to cause any substantial reduction in this effect when the jet is always perpendicular to the surface supporting the slabs.

In this embodiment of the invention, it is also desirable to keep the overthrow of water to a minimum when narrow slabs are to be barked. If narrow slabs are always guided so as to be centered on the rolls 5a the limits of nozzle I 3a travel may be brought closer together by reducing the effective length of the crank lever I9a. If, however, the guide pipe 36 were in a fixed position with narrow slabs always being guided along the guide pipe 30, the farther limit of nozzle travel may be brought closer to the guide pipe 30. by increasing the effective length of the lever arm Ita. The necessity of adjusting the limits of the nozzle I3a travel may be avoided if desired by sending more than one slab through the machine at the same time. That is, several slabs or edgings may be grouped so that the total width of the group approximate the distance traveled by the jet. Since the jet will always be directed vertically, the slabs and edgings thus grouped need not necessarily be of the same height for there will be no surface hidden from the vertical jet.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in this art that this embodiment of the invention may be used to bark whole logs if the rolls to: were replaced by any well known type rolls that also rotate the log as the log is carried through the machine.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiments of the invention provide new and improved hydraulic barking devices, and accordingly, accomplish the objects of the invention. On the other hand, it will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that the illustrative embodiments of the invention may be variously changed and modified, or features thereof, singly or collectively, embodied in other combinations than those illustrated, without departing from the scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of the advantages thereof, and that accordingly the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and the invention is not limited thereto.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a hydraulic log barking machine, means for axially advancing a log or part thereof through said machine, means to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure, a rigid conduit member connected to said supply means by a flexible fluid coupling, means to cause said member to oscillate about a fixed axis extending through said flexible coupling, and a nozzle for directing a barking jet in a transverse path with respect to the longitudinal axis of a passing log, said nozzle being mounted on the free swinging end of said member so that the jet issues from said nozzle on an axis which always remains parallel to the axis of oscillation.

2. In a hydraulic log barking machine, as defined in claim 1, said rigid conduit member being mounted above said log advancing means, and said barking jet issuing on a vertical axis and oscillating across said log advancing means.

3. In a hydraulic log barking machine, means for axially advancing a log or part thereof through said machine, means to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure, a rigid conduit member having one end connected to said supply means by a flexible coupling and having the other end freely swingable relative to said flexible coupling, means to cause said member to oscillate about a fixed axis extending through said flexible coupling, the axis of oscillation lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a log as it passes through said machine, and a nozzle for directing a barking jet against the passing log, said nozzle being mounted on said free swinging end of said member, said free swinging end of said member being bent to such an angle as will cause said nozzle to direct said jet toward the passing log and to issue said let on an axis which always remains parallel to said axis of oscillation, so that the jet will impinge against the surface of the passing log and travel a transverse path with respect to the longitudinal axis of the passing log, the issuing axis of the jet at any point along said path lying parallel to the issuing axis of the jet at any other point along said path.

4. In a hydraulic log barking machine, means for axially advancing a horizontally disposed log or part thereof through said machine, means to supply a hydraulic fluid under pressure, and a rigid L-shaped conduit member connected on one end to said supply means by a flexible fluid coupling and having the other end freely swingable relative to said flexible coupling, means to cause said member to oscil ate about a fixed axis extending through said flexible coupling, said axis of oscillation lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a passing log, and said freely swinging end of said L-shaped member directing a hydraulic jet toward the passing log, the jet issuing on an axis which always remains parallel to axis of oscillation.

5. In a hydraulic log barking machine, means for axially advancing a log through machine, a pair of nozzle assemblies, one of said assemblies being mounted on one side of said log advancing means and the other of said assemblies being mounted on the other side of said log advancing means so as to direct a barking jet against a log passing through said machine, and means to supply hydraulic fluid to each of said nozzle assemblies, said nozzle assemblies each including a rigid conduit member having one end connected to said fluid supply means by a flexible fluid coupling and having the other end freely swingable relative to said flexible coupling, a nozzle attached to said free swinging end of said member and directed at said passing log, and means for oscillating said nozzle about an axis parallel to the issuing of its jet, to cause the jet to impinge against the surface of the passing log and travel in a transverse path with respect to the longitudinal axis of the passing log, the issuing axis of the jet at any point along said path being parallel to the issuing axis of said jet at any other point along said path.

6. In a hydraulic log barking machine, means for axially advancing a horizontally disposed log through said machine, a pair of nozzle assemblies, one of assemblies being mounted on one side of said log advancing means and the other of said assemblies being mounted on the other side of said log advancing means so as to direct a barking jet against a log passing through said machine, and means to supply hydraulic fluid to each of said nozzle assemblies, said nozzle assemblies each including a rigid conduit memher having one end connected to said fluid supply means by a flexible fluid coupling and having the other end freely swingable relative to said flexible coupling, a nozzle attached to said free swinging end of said member and horizontally directed at said passing log, and means for oscillating said nozzle about a horizontal axis be-- tween limits established by the top and bottom surfaces of said passing log, to cause each of said assemblies to direct a barking jet respectively against each side of said passing log and to cover of the peripheral surface of said passing log.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,657,990 Blouin Jan. 31, 1928 1,696,385 Coles Dec. 25, 1928 1,928,621 Frede et al Oct. 3, 1933 2,413,341 Swift so. 31, 1946 2,502,763 Swift Apr. l, 1950 2,587,473 I-Iolveck et a1 Feb. 26, 1952 

